Printing press



NOV. 23, 1943. LE 2,334,821

PRINTING PRESS Filed March 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 23, 1943. J.F. HAWLEY PRINTING PRESS Filed March 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 25 gg5.

Patented Nov- 23, 1943 UNITED STATE s- PATENT oFFicE ramrmc rnnss JohnF. llawley ltiverslde, in.

Application March as, 1942, Serial No. 438,303

6 Claims.

- which are provided on their backs with a pressure sensitive adhesivecoating. The difliculty with such adhesive backed printing plates is inproperly positioning the plates upon the printing rollers. In someinstances marks have been made on the surface of a printing roll' towhich a plate is to be aflixed, so as to indicate the proper positionfor the plate, butthat method has not proved entirely satisfactory whereexact registration is required. It has usually been necessary toposition an adhesive backed printing plate by a trial and error method,which entails considerable time owing to the fact that angular indexingarrangement, which may comprise a wheel carried by at least one of theprinting roll shafts and a stationary pointer cooperating withgraduations or indexing marks on the wheel, or the marks can be placedon the periphery of the printing roll itself. Since each of the printingrolls is connected to another through a train of gears, one setting ofone printing roll is sufficient to bring all of the printing rolls intothe same angular relationship. a

I have now found that long flexible printing plates supported solely bythe spaced ends of swinging arms for positioning on a printing rollertend to belly or sag between the ends of the arms. Further, movement ofthe swingable I arms lengthwise of a printing roller into proper theprinting plate must be entirely separatedv from the surface of theprinting Iroll between successive steps of ailixing the plate to thesurface of the roll.

In accordance-with the invention described and claimed in my copendingapplication entitled Printing plate and method of making same, SerialNo. 358,977, filed September 30, 1940, I provide each printing platewith a pair of properly located holes, so that where two or moreprinting plates are used in conjunction for effecting the imprint ofdifierent colors, the holes in each of the plates are in the sameposition with reference to the design, or printing indicia carried bythe plate. According to my patented invention I utilize theperforations. of the printing plate for properly positioning the plateboth angularly and circumferentially of the printing roll. Thisisaccomplished by means of swingable arms adjustably mounted formovement along rotatable shafts mounted in stationary bearings so as tobe parallel to the axes of the printing rolls. A pair of such arms ismounted on each of the shafts and carry pins for insertion in theapertures of the printing plate to temporarily support such printingplate while the arms are swung into position against the printing roll.Each shaft may he graduated or otherwise indexed in order that all ofthe arms on the separate shafts may be-set at the same spaced positionlengthwise of the printing rolls.

In addition, my patented invention provides an registering position fora flexible printing plate on the roller may be cumbersome andadds to thearm swinging steps separate steps for positioning the arms lengthwise ofthe printing roll and for subsequently withdrawing the arms to aposition outside the printing roll ends to avoid interference withaccess of the form rolls to the pri tin p e According to my presentinvention, each pair of positioning arms is swingable at fixed pointsoutside the printing roll ends and the ends of the positioning arms areconnected by a cross bar. This cross bar is slotted longitudinally andis also provided with graduation marks distributd lengthwise of the'bar.Pins or the like may be secured in the slot transversely thereto at anydesired locations for supporting a flexible rubber plate in registrationwith other plates supported by like pins on similar cross bars carriedby the ends of other swinging arms pivoted outside the ends of the otherprinting roll of the same printing press.

In this improved construction, the cross bar supports a flexible rintingplate throughout the plate length to prevent sagg and Further, theswinging arms need not be moved lengthwise of the printing roller inorder to bring a printing plate carried thereby into properregistration. The printing plate is rather originally placed on thecross bar in registering position as indicated by the graduation markson the cross bar, and the arms are merely swung against the printingroll and then swung away there'- from after the printing plate has beentransferred to the printing roll.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention toprovide am'ulti-color printing press having improved means for applying to theprinting rolls thereof adhesive backed flexible for applying suchprinting plates in registration with each other including arms swingableoutside the printing roll ends and connected by graduated cross bars inwhich positioning pins may be disposed at proper locations for insertioninto the holes of the printing plates tohold said plates temporarily asthe plates are brought into contact with an adhesively secured to theS111? faces of the printing rolls.

Other and further object and features will be apparent from thedisclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts shown intransverse crosssection, of a multicolor printing press illustrating attachmentsembodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 2"is a fragmentary top plan view of a printing roll andattachment.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view, partly in section, illustrating themethod of applying a flexible printing plate to a printing roll.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational front view of a platepositioning arm and cross bar. v v

Figure 5 is an enlarged end view of a positioning cross bar carrying aflexible printing plate. v Figure 6 is a plan view of a flexibleprinting plate. a

In Figure 1 is illustrated a multi-color printing press of more or lessconventional construction, including a stationary frame ID on which aremounted printing rolls ll, l2 and I3 and cooperating backing rolls l4,l5 and IS. A movable frame I! is suitably mounted upon a pair of tracks[8 for movement thereover by means of a rack l9 and. pinion 20. Saidframe l1 carries the usual form rolls 2| and ink distributing rolls 22,which are adapted, when the frame I1 is moved up into association withthe stationary frame ID, to apply the ink, color or the like to theprinting rolls II, [2 and [3.

A roll of paper 23 is adapted to be mounted upon the stationary frameIt]. A web 24 of paper from the roll 23 is fed between the cooperatingbacking and printing rolls and then over suitable guide rollers 25 to areel 26, where the printed paper is rewound.

In accordance with the principles of my present invention, the printingis accomplished by means of flexible printing plates 21 (Fig. 6), whichmay' be formed of a laminated rubber composition base 28 having raisedprinting indlcia 29 thereon. In multi-color jobs, each of the printingplates 21 carries the printing indicia for imprinting the color that isto be applied by means of that printing plate. The composite of theimprints from the successive printing plates makes up the finishedmulti-color imprint. It is therefore essential that each of the printingplates be properly positioned on the respective printing rolls so thatthe proper registration of the successive imprints may be effected.Proper registration is equally important when the finished print is madeup of a plurality of single color imprints. As an aid to effectingproper registration in accordance with my present invention, I provide apair of holes or apertures 30 and 3| anywhere on the printing plate, for

frame l0. Since all of the shafts and their associated parts areidentical, only one need be described.

'and 36, as at 43,

On each of the shafts 32 is mounted a pair of arms 35 and 36. Each ofsaid arms includes a hub or collar portion 31 which encloses the shaft32 and which is key'ed thereto to fix the arms lengthwise andperipherally of the shaft by means including keys 38. Each of the arms35 is provided with an inner curvature 39 that conforms generally withthe curvature of the printing roll, in order that the'ends of the armsmay be brought into fairly closely spaced relationship with the surfaceof the roll. In order to make the arms lighter in weight, while stillpreserving their rigidity, spaced openings 40 may be pro vided along thelength of the arms.

The free ends of each arm pair 35 and 33 support a cross bar 42 rigidlyaifixed to the arm ends by any suitable means. This cross bar 42 ispreferably curved transversely into semi-circular cross sectional form."The cross bar 42 is further slotted lengthwise between the arms II Asshown in Fig. 5, studs 44 having a flat cap 45 with a lug 46 projectingtherefrom may be inserted in the slot 43, with the fiat cap 45 seated onthe outside of the cross bar and the lug projecting toward the pressroll. A nut 41 serves to hold the stud in any desired positionlengthwise of the cross bar.

The cross bar 42 may suitably be one half of a pipe sectioned lengthwiseand slotted longitudinally at the bottom of the cross sectionalcurvature.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the cross bar 42 is provided with graduations48 distributed lengthwise thereof. The graduations 48 need be in noparticular units of measurement, but should be sumciently closely spacedto enable exact registration of the printing plates lengthwise of theprinting rolls. Further, a pointer 49 is associated with each stud 44,being formed, for instance, by a pointed extension of the stud caps 45,to assist in setting the studs 44 in the desired position lengthwise ofthe bar 42.

Each lug 46 is of the same diameter as one of the holes 30 or 3 I. Inpositioning a printing plate 21 against the surface of a printing roll,such as the roll I I, the studs 44 are first placed in properregistering position lengthwise of the bar 42 as indicated by thepointers 49 on the graduations 48. The studs are, of course, properlyspaced to be received in the holes 30 and 3! Two or four or more studsmay be provided, to permit positioning one or two or more printingplates side by side on the same printing roll. The printing plate orplates are then suspended from the lugs 46, with the adhesive-backedplate side facing the printing roll. The arms 35 and 36 are thenswunginto the position shown in Fig. 3, until the ends of the lugs 45are in contact with the surfaceof the roll II. The printing plate 21 isthen pressed against the roll surface throughout its entire area andcaused to adhere thereto by reason. of the pressure sensitive adhesivewith which the base of the plate is coated. After the printing platetioned about each of the printing rolls II, If and If, their centerlines will obviously be spaced 120 apart about the circumference of themils. In

has been positioned in place, the arms 35 and 85 this case, therefore,three graduation lines are lowered so as not to interfere with the ap- 5spaced 120 apart on the wheel 5|, will be. emproximation of the rolls 2|against the printing ployed in the indexing operation. Similarly, ifrolls. The lower two arms 35 are shown in Fig. l there were six printingplates to be positioned on in such' a non-interfering position.

Since the printing plate 21 is supported length-- wise by the cross bar42, the plate will not belly or sag between the lugs It. Further, thearms 35 and 38 need not be moved lengthwise of therolls II.

In order that'the several printing rolls II, II and I3 may all beadjusted to the proper angular position, I provide an indexing mechanismcomprising a wheel 5| secured to an extended end of one of the printingroll shafts, such as the upper shaft 52, and a stationary arm 53 securedto the frame ll as at 54 and having a straight edge 55 for registrationwith one of the indexin marks 55 on said wheel 5|. Since the severalprinting rolls II, II and I3 are positively driven by a common train ofgears, including the gears 55 on the ends of said printing roll shaftsand idler gears 51, a setting of the upper printing roll l|automatically brings the other printing rolls i2 and I3 into the sameangular relationship. Accordingly, where there are a plurality .ofprinting plates about the peripheries of each of the printing rolls, theupper printing roll" I! is tumed to the proper setting on the indexingwheel 5|, the first set of printing plates positioned in place on therespective printing rolls ll, I2 and I3, and then the upper printingroll II is turned to the next indexing position on the wheel 5| at whicha second set of plates is to be positioned, and so on until all of thesets of plates have been afllxed to the printing rolls. It is preferableto have the diameter of the wheel 5| about twice that of the printingrolls, so that an error, say of in the setting of the wheel 5|, resultsin an error of only one-half as much; namely, %4", in the positioning ofthe printing plate circumferentially of the printing roll. I

Although no means is shown for turning the upper printing roll into itsindexed position, it will be understood that this can be done manuallythrough the wheel 5| itself. Preferably, however, a manually operablewheel, acting through a train of reduction gearing (not shown) isemployed, since on relatively heavy presses it would obviously be rathera taskto turn all of the printing rolls through the train of gearingthatserves to drive them. This train of gearing is not shown in toto, but isindicated by gears 65 on the driven ends of the printing rolls, II, I!and i3, and idler gears 51, which mesh therewith and also with the gears(not shown) on the driven ends of the back rolls l4, l5 and it. Becauseof this common train of gears between the printin rolls ii, I! and i3,the setting of the upper printlng roll II by means of the indexingmechanism, consisting of the wheel 5| and pointer 55, serves to indexthe other printing rolls l2 and I3 to the same angular relationship. Itwill be appreciated, of course, that in adjusting the printing rolls tothe same angular relationship, the indexing wheel 5| is always turned inthe same direction each time, to bring the proper graduation line-55under the straight edge 55 of the pointer arm 53. Otherwise, there mightbe sufllcient backlash in the train of gears to give rise to an error inthe indexing.

If there are three printing plates to be posi- 75 tion,

each printing roll, six equally spaced graduation lines 55 on theindexing wheel 5| would be'. brought successively under the straightedge I! of thepointer arm 53.

v It is .thus possible, by the use of my improved indexing mechanism, toinsure proper registration'of the printing plates in a multi-colorprinting press, and. to do this with aminimum of labor and effort andwithout having flexible plates. belly or sag while being brought intoregistering position. It will, of course; be understood that variousdetails of construction may be varied through a wide range withoutdeparting from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore,not the purpose to limit the patent granted on this invention otherwisethan necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing pressincluding a printing roll on which printing platesare adapted to be positioned, means for releasably engaging said platesat stations spaced from said rolls and for conveying thus engaged platesto said roll in proper registration, said means comprising swingablearms, a member connecting and swingable with said arms and havinggraduation indicia associated with said member, and plate engaging meanssecurable in said member at positions determinable by reference to saidindicia for applying the plate to the printing roll.

2. In a printing press including aprinting roll on which printing platesare adapted to be 40 positioned, means for releasably engaging saidplates at stations spaced from said roll and for conveying thus engagedplates to said roll in proper registration, said means comprising armsswingable outside the printing roll ends, a cross bar connecting andswingable with said arms into proximity with said printing roll .andprovided with graduation indicia distributed lengthwise of the bar, andplate engaging means carried by said cross bar and movable lengthwisethereof to apply the plate to the printing roll at a positiondeterminable by reference to said indicia.

3. In a printing press including a printing roll on which printingplates are adapted to be positioned, means for releasably engaging saidplates 'at stations spaced from said roll and for conveying thus engagedplates to saidroll in proper registration, said means comprising a shaftcarrying arm swingable outside the printing roll ends, a cross barconnecting and swingable with said arms into and out of proximity withsaid printing roll and provided with graduation indicia distributedlengthwise of the bar, and pins capable of being adjustably secured onsaid bar and adapted to be inserted in holes on said printing 5 platesto carry the same into position against the printing roll when the armsand cross bar are swung thereagainst.

4. In a multi-color printing pressincluding a plurality of printingrolls and a flexible printing plate for positioning on each roll, eachplate having a pair of positioning holes therein, means for releasablyengaging said plates at stations spaced from said rolls and forconveying thus engaged plates to said rolls in proper registrasaid meanscomprising a shaft fixedlymounted for rotation alongside each printingroll and parallel thereto, a pair of arms, secured to each shaft outsidethe printing roll ends, a cross bar connecting said arms and swingabletherewith on rotation of said shaft and provided with graduationsdistributed lengthwise 01' said bar and pins carried by said baradjustably secured theretoior insertion into the holes of a printingplate to carry the plate upon swinging movement of said arms and crossbar into the proper position on the corresponding printing roll, wheresaid plate may beadhesively secured before withdrawing said pins.

5. In a multi-color printing press including a plurality of printingrolls and a flexible printing plate for positioning on each roll, eachplate having a pair of positioning holes therein, means for releasablyengaging said plates at stations spaced from said rolls and forconveying thus engaged plates to said'rolls in proper registration, saidmeans comprising a shaft fixedly mounted. for rotation alongside eachprinting roll and parallel thereto, a pair of. arms securedto each shaftoutside the printing roll ends, a cross bar having a semi-circular crosssection and slotted lengthwise between said arms as well as providedwith graduation marks distributed lengthwise of the cross bar, pinshaving threaded portions insertable into said slot and provided withflanges capable of being seated on the outside or the cross bar, saidflanges being formed with pointers for indicatingthe position of eachpin with reference to said graduation marks, and nuts capable of beingthreaded on the inserted pin ends to secure the pins in any desiredposition on said cross bar, said pins being capable of insertion intothe holes of a printing plate to carry the same.

6. In a multi-color printing press including a plurality of printingrolls and a flexible-printing plate for positioning on each roll, eachplate having a pair of positioning holes therein, means for releasablyengaging said plates at stations spaced from said rolls andfor conveyingthus engaged plates to said rolls in proper registration, said x meanscomprising a pair of arms and a graduated cross bar connecting the armsswin'gable to and from the surface of each printing roll, pins adaptedto be inserted into the positioning holes in the plates to hold theplates temporarily and means for securing said pins. to said bars forholding flexible printing plates thereon in proper registrationlengthwise of said bars as indicated by the graduations thereon.

JOHN F. HAWLEY.

